Apparatus for impregnating foam materials



July 27, 1965 A. M. PALOMBO 3,197,082

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FOAM MATERIALS Original Filed June 24, 1959 FIG.I

K l4 g v F 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,197,082 APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FQAM MATERIALS Albert M. Palombo, Arlington, Mass, assignor to American Metaseal of Massachusetts, Inc, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application June 24, 1959, Ser. No. 822,594, now Patent No. 3,049,444, dated Aug. 14, 1962. Divided and this application Apr. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 185,854

7. Ciaims. (Cl. 222-207) This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 822,594, riled June 24, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,049,444, patented August 14, 1962.

This invention relates to improvements in impregnated articles especially well adapted for floral displays and apparatus for the production of such articles.

In the patent to Smithers, No. 2,753,277, dated July 3, 19-56, there was disclosed the application of a layer of Wetting agent on the exterior of a mass of a foamed synthetic material selected from the group consisting of ureaformaldehyde and a phenolic condensation resin. It has been found that where such masses are coated externally by such wetting agents, the time during which the masses must be held submerged in water in order to saturate them is excessive and, accordingly, expensive.

After extended research, the present invention has evolved rendering it possible to provide a product which requires a much shorter period of submergence to achieve the required degree of saturation to serve the purpose for which the articles are intended.

The impregnating apparatus contemplated by the present invention comprises a body member carrying a plurality of tubular nozzles movable towards and from a work piece, a pressure applying member defining an eX- pansible chamber with the body member, the pressure applying member being movable towards the body member to eject fluid through the nozzles, force transmitting means for moving the body member towards and from the work piece, and force applying means for moving the pressure applying member towards the body member. The expansible chamber thus formed contains an inlet port provided with a check valve opening inwardly relative to the chamber. The pressure applying member and the body member are preferably spaced parallel plates connected by a Wall of flexible material such as rubber or a rubber-like material. The pressure applying member and body member are preferably provided with biasing means tending to expand the chamber.

The impregnated article assumes the form of a water retentive mass of foamed cellular synthetic material selected from the group consisting of urea-formaldehyde and a phenolic condensation resin, the mass having exterior surfaces at least one of whichis penetrated by a plurality of parallel passages, and a wetting agent disposed entirely within the mass in spaced relationship to the exterior surfaces. The mass preferably has opposed exterior surfaces penetrated by the passages. The Wetting agent is disposed along such passages in spaced relationship to the exterior surfaces.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow a description based upon the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus contemplated by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation depicting the apparatus with respect to a work piece;

FIG. '3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a section of the impregnated article taken along line 5-'5 of FIG. 2.

3,197,82 Patented July 27, 1965 Various types of foam materials have'lbeen. used in floral display-s for holding flower stems in bores or recesses. ,The foam materials for such use are generally rigid and used as a mass large enough to receive the stems of the desired number of flowers or the like to be displayed. However, the foam masses or blocks absorb water very poorly despite the presence of a large percentage of open cells. For example, a foamed block prepared fr-om a resin mix of phenolformald-ehyde resin (other phenolic condensation resins or urea-formaldehyde resins, for example, may also be used), and including small amounts of .a softening agent and a hardening agent in addition to the foaming agent, as described in the Smithers Patent No. 2,753,277, absorbs water. very poorly despite the fact it usually contains 45% open cells.

As is well known in the art, ablock of such foam weighing 0.06 lb. immersed in water for 30 minutes absorbs only 0.19 lb. of water; immersed for 60 minutes it absorbs only 0.21 lb. of water; and immersed for 6 hours absorbs only 0.24 lb. of water.

Whereas the application of an exterior coating of a wetting agent to such a block improves the absorptive properties of the foam as set forth'in the Smithers Patent No. 2,753,277, the degree and rate of absorption of water have been greatly increased in accordance with the present invention by distributing awetting agent throughout the interior of the mass or block but in spaced relationship to the exterior surfaces thereof so as to avoid loss of any of the wetting-agent through handling,

Many types of wetting agents may be employed for purposes of the present invention including polyglycol ether, artificial soaps, Igepal n anufactu-redby Antara Products Company, which is reputedly alkyl phenoxy polyoxyethyl-ene ethanol, and Renex No. 35, manufactured by Atlas Powder Company; The amount of, Wetting agent employed will be-small' enough to avoid adverse effe'ct-s on the flowers to be supported. 7 The impreghated product of the present invention absorbs water from six to ten times as rapidly as where the Wetting agent is applied as an external film.

The apparatus depicted in thedrawings includes a lower plate or body member. 10 through which a plurality of tubular nozzles '12 extend and from which they riphery of the body member 10 there is a trame 16 to which is secured by welding or otherwise a plurality of rods .18 to serve as force transmitting elements. Above the body member or lower plate '10 there is provided a pressure applying member or upper plate 20 to Whose upper surfa-w force transmitting members assuming the form of rod-s 22 are secured by welding 24 or in other suitable fashion. -A sheet of flexible material 26 such as rubber or -a rubber-like material has. an upper edge 28 secured to the lower'surfaceof the upper plate 20 and a lower edge 36 secured to the upper surfiace of the lower plate 10 by means of'a suitable adhesive. Thus the flexible material 26 forms with the lower plate 1G and the upper plate .20 an expansible chamber into which fluid can be introduced through an inlet port 32 from a suitable source through a check valve 34 opening inwardly with respect to the expansible chamber. The chamber is biased towards its expanded condition by means of compression springs 36 whose ends are received in recesses 38 'formed in the inner surface-s of the lower plate 10 and upper plate 20. Various other'arrangements can be employed for injecting the fluid under pressure from a valve controlled chamber, through the nozzles, into the interior of the foamed cellular material.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the mass of foamed cellular synthetic material 14 is supported on a table 40, the upper surfiace of the mass lying in contact with the ends of the tubular nozzles'12; Now assuming that the expansible chamber defined between the lower plate 10'- and the upper plate 20 with the flexible material'26 is full of the wetting agent, the lower plate 10 will first be lowered by means of the force transmitting .rrxls '18 until the ends of the tubularnozzles'are well below the upper surface or the .mass 14. Then, further downward movement of the lower plate 10 will be accompanied by a downward movement of the upper plate 20 with respect'to the lower plate 10 by means of the force transmitting rods 22 so that wetting agent will be ejected from the ends of the nozzles for distribution internally of the mass "14 and this compound motion willibe continued until the lower ends of the tubular nozzles :12 reach a level substantially above the lower surface of the mass 14, whereupon downward motion w-il-lbe discontinued. The upper plate 20 may then be elevated ahead of the lower plate 10 with the result that any excess wetting agent will be drawn up through the tubular nozzles 12 into the expansiblechamher and additional wetting agent will be sucked from the source through the check valve 34 in preparation for a new operation. Upward movement of the plates 10 and '20 will be efiected in a'manner. to prevent any further ejection of wetting agent until a new mass to'be impregnated has been positionedonthe support 40 in substitution fonthe mass which has been impregnated already.

A cross section through. the foamed cellular synthetic mass after it has been impregnated appears in FIG. wherein the denser st-ippling denotes the presence of the wetting agent 42 and the lighter peripheral stippling indicates the portion whichis completely freefrom the wet.- ting agent. It' will be noted that the mass contains a plurality of parallel passages 44 corresponding-in number and spacing'to the tubular nozzles '12. The presence 7 of these passages 44 permits-the rapid entry of water .when the mass is submerged therein so that the mass will become completely saturated in far'less time than has been the case with any product proposedheretofore.

The impregnated material can be used to support flowers by the insertion of their stems into the saturated mass in the manner already known in the art.

Variations of the apparatus and product as will be suggested .by the foregoingdisclosure to those skilled in the art are contemplated by the appended claims.

1. Impregnating sapparatuscomprising a body member Icarryinga plurality of tubular nozzles, said body member being movable towards and firom a work piece in response to. a moving force, aflpressure applying member defining an expansible chamber with said body member communicating with each of said plurality of nozzles,

. 4, *4. Impregnating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said members are provided with biasing means therebetween tending to expand said chamber.

5. Impregnating apparatus comprising a body member carrying l8. plurality of tubular nozzles movable toward and from a work piece in response to a moving force, a pressure applying member defining a common expansible chamber with said body member and in continuous communication wi-th'eao'h of said nozzles, and means defining an inlet to said chamber, said pressure applying member being movable toward said body member in response to the same moving force to eject fluid from said common chamber through each of said nozzles. V

6. Impregnating apparatus comprising abody member carrying a plurality of tubular nozzles for movement into cavities ina work piece, said body member being movable toward and from the=wor k piece in response toa moving force for carrying said nozzles into and out of said work piece, a pressure applying member defining a common expansible chamber with said body member and in continuous communication with each of said nozzles, and means defining an inlet to said chamber, said pressure applying member being movable toward said body member in response to the same moving force to eject fluid from said common chamber through each of said nozzles and being thereupon movable away from said body member to draw fluid through said nozzles and through said inlet into said-chamber.

'7. Impregnating apparatus comprising a body member movable towards .and away from a work piece in, response tola movingforce, said body member carrying a plurality of tubular nozzles-for insertion into said work piece and adapted to emit a fluid' therein,- s-aidbody member comprising a plate retaining said nozzles therein; a pressure applying member comprising a second :plate spaced parallel to said body member and movable towards and away from said body 'member in response to the same moving force, a wall of flexible material connected thereto and to said body member forming an expansible fluid chamber, said chamber being in communication with said nozzles; spring means positioned between the body member and the pressure applying member, said spring-means tending to expand said chamber; and a fluid inlet port in said chamber provided with a check valve opening inwardly 'into said chamber whereby lluid may be introduced into said chamber; said apparatus being movable in operation toward a work piece to inject a fluid thereinto and movable away from said Work piece .on completion of said injection whereupon said expansible chamber operates to draw some tfluid back through said nozzles to create a positive shutofl.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,257 5/;13 Scheuer 118254 2,699,747 1/55 'Moreland et a1. 99257 2,784,882 3/57 Du Bois ZZZ-Q15 3,062,682 1 1/ 62 Morgan et a l. 118-411 RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH B. SPENCER, Examiner. 

1. IMPREGNATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER CARRYING A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR NOZZLES, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING MOVABLE TOWARDS AND FROM A WORK PIECE IN RESPONSE TO A MOVING FORCE, A PRESURE APPLYING MEMBER DEFINING AN EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER WITH SAID BODY MEMBER COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF NOZZLES, SAID PRESSURE APPLYING MEMBER BEING MOVABLE TOWARDS SAID BODY MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO THE SAME MOVING FORCE TO EJECT FLUID THROUGH SAID NOZZLES. 